Architect I.M. Pei Dead At 102

Sarah Ruiz-Grossman
Updated

World-renowned architect Ieoh Ming Pei, known as I.M. Pei, died at age 102.

Pei’s architecture firm Pei Cobb Freed and Partners confirmed to HuffPost that Pei had died. His son Li Chung Pei told The New York Times on Thursday that his father had died overnight.

The Chinese American architect was known for iconic designs, such as the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, France. Among his most famous projects were museums like the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the JFK Library in Boston, designed in the 1970s, as well as buildings like the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong in the 1980s and the Four Seasons Hotel in Manhattan in the 1990s.

While the glass and metal pyramid entrance to the Louvre, built in 1989, is now one of the world’s most well-known and celebrated structures, at the time Pei’s design was met with criticism from many in France’s art establishment.

“But how can you compare?” Pei told the Times in 1983 when asked about his favorites among his works. “It’s like a man with many children ... They all have different challenges, and their personalities are different.″

Chinese American architect I.M. Pei bursts out laughing while posing in front of the Louvre glass pyramid, prior to its inauguration on Mar. 29, 1989, in Paris. (Photo: AP)
Chinese American architect I.M. Pei bursts out laughing while posing in front of the Louvre glass pyramid, prior to its inauguration on Mar. 29, 1989, in Paris. (Photo: AP)

For the JFK Library, Pei similarly utilized glass and metal in his design to create a structure that let in floods of light.

“Its openness is the essence,” Pei wrote of the JFK Library in a 1979 program. “In the silence of that high, light-drenched space, the visitors will be alone with their thoughts.”

“In the skyline of [John F. Kennedy’s] city, in the distant horizons toward which he led us, in the canopy of space into which he launched us, visitors may experience revived hope and promise for the future,” he added.

Born in China in 1917, Pei came to the U.S. at 17 years old to study architecture. He graduated from MIT and Harvard, where he later was an assistant professor. He founded an architecture firm in the 1950s, from which he retired in 1990. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993.

The JFK Library in Boston. (Photo: Rick Friedman via Getty Images)
The JFK Library in Boston. (Photo: Rick Friedman via Getty Images)

This has been updated throughout.

Also on HuffPost

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

Herman Wouk

Herman Wouk, author of “The Caine Mutiny” and the World War II epics “The Winds of War” and “War and Remembrance,” died May 17 at the age of 103.
Herman Wouk, author of “The Caine Mutiny” and the World War II epics “The Winds of War” and “War and Remembrance,” died May 17 at the age of 103.

Peter Mayhew

Actor Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in the "Star Wars" series, died April 30, 2019 at the age of 74.
Actor Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in the "Star Wars" series, died April 30, 2019 at the age of 74.

John Singleton

John Singleton, 51, whose powerful debut film, “Boyz N the Hood,” earned him an Oscar nomination for best director, the first for an African-American, died on April 29, 2019.
John Singleton, 51, whose powerful debut film, “Boyz N the Hood,” earned him an Oscar nomination for best director, the first for an African-American, died on April 29, 2019.

Richard G. Lugar

Richard G. Lugar, a six-term senator from Indiana who became one of the foremost voices on U.S. foreign policy, died on April 28, 2019. He was 87.
Richard G. Lugar, a six-term senator from Indiana who became one of the foremost voices on U.S. foreign policy, died on April 28, 2019. He was 87.

Nipsey Hussle

Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed on March 31, 2019. He was 33.
Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed on March 31, 2019. He was 33.

Birch Bayh

Former Sen. Birch Bayh (D-Ind.), who pushed for the landmark 1972 federal law banning discrimination against women in college admissions and athletics, died on March 14, 2019. He was 91.
Former Sen. Birch Bayh (D-Ind.), who pushed for the landmark 1972 federal law banning discrimination against women in college admissions and athletics, died on March 14, 2019. He was 91.

Hal Blaine

Drummer Hal Blaine, who propelled dozens of major hit records during the ‘60s and ‘70s as a member of the “Wrecking Crew,” Hollywood’s elite, ubiquitous cadre of first-call studio musicians, died on March 11, 2019. He was 90.
Drummer Hal Blaine, who propelled dozens of major hit records during the ‘60s and ‘70s as a member of the “Wrecking Crew,” Hollywood’s elite, ubiquitous cadre of first-call studio musicians, died on March 11, 2019. He was 90.

Luke Perry,

Luke Perry, who burst onto the TV scene and countless fan-magazine covers in 1990 as one of the core cast members of the hit show “Beverly Hills, 90210,” then went on to a busy career in television and film that included, most recently, the CW series “Riverdale,” died on March 4, 2019 at the age of 52.
Luke Perry, who burst onto the TV scene and countless fan-magazine covers in 1990 as one of the core cast members of the hit show “Beverly Hills, 90210,” then went on to a busy career in television and film that included, most recently, the CW series “Riverdale,” died on March 4, 2019 at the age of 52.

André Previn

André Previn, 89, a composer of Oscar-winning film music, conductor, pianist and music director of major orchestras, died on February 28, 2019.
André Previn, 89, a composer of Oscar-winning film music, conductor, pianist and music director of major orchestras, died on February 28, 2019.

Katherine Helmond

Katherine Helmond, who received seven Emmy Award nominations for her varied roles in television comedies, including “Soap” and “Who’s the Boss?,” died Feb. 23, 2019 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 89.
Katherine Helmond, who received seven Emmy Award nominations for her varied roles in television comedies, including “Soap” and “Who’s the Boss?,” died Feb. 23, 2019 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 89.

Peter Tork

Peter Tork of the Monkees died Feb. 21 at the age of 77.
Peter Tork of the Monkees died Feb. 21 at the age of 77.

Don Newcombe

Former MLB MVP Don Newcombe died on Feb. 19, 2019. He was 92.
Former MLB MVP Don Newcombe died on Feb. 19, 2019. He was 92.

Lyndon LaRouche Jr.

Lyndon LaRouche Jr., the political extremist who ran for president in every election from 1976 to 2004, including a campaign waged from federal prison, died on Feb. 12, 2019. He was 96.
Lyndon LaRouche Jr., the political extremist who ran for president in every election from 1976 to 2004, including a campaign waged from federal prison, died on Feb. 12, 2019. He was 96.

Albert Finney

British actor Albert Finney, 82, who carved an independent path in the theater and in films, portraying Agatha Christie’s detective Hercule Poirot, a Southern lawyer in “Erin Brockovich” and an Irish mob boss in “Miller’s Crossing,” died on Feb. 7, 2019.
British actor Albert Finney, 82, who carved an independent path in the theater and in films, portraying Agatha Christie’s detective Hercule Poirot, a Southern lawyer in “Erin Brockovich” and an Irish mob boss in “Miller’s Crossing,” died on Feb. 7, 2019.

John Dingell Jr.

Former Rep. John Dingell Jr. (D-Mich.), the longest-serving member of Congress in history, died on Feb. 7, 2018 at age 92.
Former Rep. John Dingell Jr. (D-Mich.), the longest-serving member of Congress in history, died on Feb. 7, 2018 at age 92.

Frank Robinson

Frank Robinson, 83, the first and only player to win the MVP award in both the National and American leagues and the MLB's first African-American manager, died on Feb. 7, 2019.
Frank Robinson, 83, the first and only player to win the MVP award in both the National and American leagues and the MLB's first African-American manager, died on Feb. 7, 2019.

Rosamunde Pilcher

Bestselling novelist Rosamunde Pilcher, 94, who sold more than 60 million books around the world, died on Feb. 6, 2019.
Bestselling novelist Rosamunde Pilcher, 94, who sold more than 60 million books around the world, died on Feb. 6, 2019.

Kristoff St. John

Actor Kristoff St. John, a longtime cast member of  CBS’ “Young and the Restless,” was found dead at his San Fernando Valley home in California on Feb. 3. He was 52. 
Actor Kristoff St. John, a longtime cast member of  CBS’ “Young and the Restless,” was found dead at his San Fernando Valley home in California on Feb. 3. He was 52. 

Michel Legrand

French composer Michel Legrand, 86, who wrote over 200 film and TV scores and won three Academy Awards, died on January 26, 2019.
French composer Michel Legrand, 86, who wrote over 200 film and TV scores and won three Academy Awards, died on January 26, 2019.

James Ingram

James Ingram, one of the biggest stars in R&B music in the 1980s and ’90s, and a double Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominee, died on Jan. 29, 2019 at age 66.
James Ingram, one of the biggest stars in R&B music in the 1980s and ’90s, and a double Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominee, died on Jan. 29, 2019 at age 66.

Russell Baker

Russell Baker, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, essayist and biographer who hosted the series “Masterpiece Theatre” on PBS and had a long-running column in The New York Times, died on Jan. 21, 2019. He was 93.
Russell Baker, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, essayist and biographer who hosted the series “Masterpiece Theatre” on PBS and had a long-running column in The New York Times, died on Jan. 21, 2019. He was 93.

Carol Channing

Actress Carol Channing, whose incandescent performances as the gold-digging Lorelei Lee in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and the matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi in “Hello, Dolly!” made her a Broadway legend, died on Jan. 15, 2019. She was 97.
Actress Carol Channing, whose incandescent performances as the gold-digging Lorelei Lee in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and the matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi in “Hello, Dolly!” made her a Broadway legend, died on Jan. 15, 2019. She was 97.

Mean” Gene Okerlund

World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame announcer “Mean” Gene Okerlund died on Jan. 2, 2019 at the age of 76.
World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame announcer “Mean” Gene Okerlund died on Jan. 2, 2019 at the age of 76.

Daryl Dragon

Singer and pianist Daryl Dragon, left, who was best known as “The Captain” of 1970s soft rock duo Captain and Tennille, died on Jan. 2, 2019 at 76.
Singer and pianist Daryl Dragon, left, who was best known as “The Captain” of 1970s soft rock duo Captain and Tennille, died on Jan. 2, 2019 at 76.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.